The Conclave Starts
Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell. The Cardinal Camerlengo – or Chamberlain – runs the Vatican during the interregnum.
Today marks the start of the Papal Conclave, the meeting to determine the Replacement for Pope Francis as the successor of St. Peter and leader of the Catholic Church.
Meeting in the Sistine Chapel, the College of Cardinal will make the choice of the next Pontifex. The College is made up of all Cardinals under the age of 80.
As Cardinal Dolan says, the College of Cardinals will stay sequestered until the new Pope is chosen. As an aside, I have met Timothy Cardinal Dolan. He impressed me as a very pious and devout man while still retaining his human side.
On the afternoon of the first day, one ballot – referred to as a “scrutiny” – may be held, but is not required. A maximum of four ballots are held on each successive day: two in each morning and two in each afternoon. Before voting in the morning and again before voting in the afternoon, the electors take an oath to obey the rules of the conclave. A two thirds majority is required to elect the new Pope.
While the Conclave is in process, a chimney on the Sistine Chapel emits black smoke. Once the new Pontiff is chosen, that smoke turns white.
Your Editor is nominally Catholic, he was raised in the Church and attends somewhat regularly. He does not follow the inner politics of the Church, so any suggestions of who will be the next Pope would be rank speculation. That said, it seems the College of Cardinals is a bit more conservative than the one that Elected Bergoglio Pope in 2013.
We’ll be paying attention to the Conclave here at MVAP. Stay tuned for updates when they occur.
